La Novena de Aguinaldos

Hi folks,

The children singing the Christmas songs for La Novena

I've decided to devote this post to describe a little more in depth about the Colombian Christmas celebrations, as they are in many ways similar, but also very different, from those in the United States. As for similarities, Papa Noel--Santa Claus--abounds; as well as Christmas lights of all colors that rival those found in the United States. The lights adorn the houses, yards and landscape; and everyone has a plastic Christmas tree.

However there is also a heavy Catholic influence, and one can find a pesebre, the Colombian version of the nativity scene, in nearly every house in the country.

The Children performing outside in front of all the adults.

In front of the pesebre, for the nine days leading up to Christmas, Colombians celebrate the custom of La Novena. Every night beginning the 16th of December at 6:30 or 7:30 (depending on the location), children and adults gather to recite prayers, sing, retell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, and all accompanied by plenty of maraca shaking. At the end of each novena, the hosts of the novena give out a treat to all the kids, symbolic of the gifts given to Jesus on his birth--and to the gifts the kids will receive on Christmas!

La Novena was founded by a Franciscan father in Quito, Peru in the 18th century, and has been practiced and has been practiced in Colombia and the countries of northern South America ever since.

Alfonso (Mondongo) with the gift bag.

On December 24th they celebrate the largest Novena, in which the entire community comes together to celebrate with a choral recital performed by the children and a reading by the local priest. At the end of the novena the children choose gifts from a bag while adults pass out steaming cups of rice pudding. 

Colombia has managed to incorporate the bright, commercialized, western Christmas culture, with the older more traditional Catholic Christmas celebrations in a way that is both respectful of the old traditions but also fun and extroverted in a way that reflects the Colombian people.

Cheers,

Kyle

Playing the carrasca--
a percussion instrument common in northern Colombia